Last year after sitting 35 days before I shot a doe, and 43 before I shot a buck, figured I'd save some $$ this year by not going till after the youth hunt.

So far all my trail camera pictures have proven my choice this year to be worthwhile.

Haven't had any bucks over 2.5 on camera, and the does are coming by the trail mid day when I'm at work anyway.

When I went to pull cards last Sunday though, I saw some smaller bucks sparring in the field (about 6 of them). When I left, in the alfalfa field was a nice 9 pointer (split G2 on the right side) that must have came to the noise, because all the other bucks were cleared from the field.

They're around, but I don't hunt over soybeans or corn, so it doesn't pay to hunt till after the youth hunt and some bucks get kicked around or start showing some dominance and patrolling larger areas.

Northern Zone 2 has something up. I swear numbers are down below 10 per square mile! Yet all kinds of antlerless tags are being sold. In my immediate area there seems to be more bears than deer! Honest. Even tried baiting two locations many miles apart by the Brule river and a bear hit both spots and no deer tracks.

MZS wrote:Northern Zone 2 has something up. I swear numbers are down below 10 per square mile! Yet all kinds of antlerless tags are being sold. In my immediate area there seems to be more bears than deer! Honest. Even tried baiting two locations many miles apart by the Brule river and a bear hit both spots and no deer tracks.

I am seeing some deer in Zone 3.

The Bears are becoming a problem everywhere in the state.Really taking a toll on the spring fawns

I've been out a few times this year and have seen deer everytime but haven't taken a shot at any yet. Drew back on a doe the last two times out but no shot was presented so had to let them pass. Hopefully tonight I can put something on the ground. This rain has been keeping the deer bedded I'm sure so they're probably getting antsy to move around and it's looking like the rain will hold off long enough for an evening hunt tonight. Temps are good, wind direction is a go, so tonight could be the night. Good luck everyone! We need some more posts on here!

Just confirmed with a cam last weekend: My property is infested with black bears! I know that deer and bear can coexist, but it is not preferred. Next year, I will get a guy in here that guides hunts to bait and kill off a few - it has ruined hunting in my back 40. Really makes me mad as I spent a lot of time getting some nice plots in - the bears are grazing on them!

A number of guys are sitting out the season around me do to lack of shooters. Trying to keep their lands quiet and keep their bucks alive. Some are just targeting does since the population increased significantly - which is weird, you think the hard winter would have affected the recruitment as well as antlers?

I have a friend who booked a Buffalo County hunt, the outfitter is sick to his stomach with the lack of shooters they have over there as well

I have 4 years old on my farm with 120" antlers. Do you shoot them because they are old or do you let them live another year and hope for the best?

Hey Bullwinkle, I also hunt in 62B just outside of Iola. Where are you located in 62B? We have the same issues, plenty of deer but overall antler size very poor. We usually have at least 3-4 deer over 140" but were looking at maybe 1 this year. If it is a 120" four year old, I personally would let him go just to see if he will rebound next year but i know many hunters who would take that deer to get him out of the gene pool. I guess it all depends on what your preferences are.